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By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing, and Glenn Beckmann, USF Global and National Security Institute

As nuclear tensions rise around the world, the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ is bringing together some of the nation’s most influential voices in national security. 

Hosted by the USF Global and National Security Institute, the Tampa Summit Cracks in the Lamp: Freeing the Nuclear Genie conference will take place March. 24-25 on the Tampa campus. It will explore the future of nuclear deterrence, escalation risks and emerging defense technologies, such as the proposed Golden Dome missile shield.

USF students are also invited to explore careers in national security through a roundtable discussion and present their research on the topic to the audience. 

Speakers include Chris Hill, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea; retired Gen. John Hyten, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Frank Miller, former special assistant to the president, and retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, executive director of GNSI and Cyber °®ÎÛ´«Ã½. 

McKenzie retired from the military in 2022 as commander of U.S. Central Command, where he was responsible for military operations throughout the Middle East – previously serving 42 years in the U.S. Marine Corp. 

Ahead of the conference, McKenzie shared his perspective on nuclear risks and the technologies shaping the future of warfare.

Do you believe nuclear weapons will be used again in our lifetime? If so, which countries are most likely to deploy them?

Unfortunately, yes. I think we are closest to nuclear use on the Indian subcontinent, between Pakistan and India. There are many paths that could lead to the use of nuclear weapons, but the conventional weakness of Pakistan in a war with India is a powerful forcing function.

The treaty between the U.S. and Russia to limit the use of nuclear weapons expired last month. What does that mean for nuclear testing and stockpiles?

All bets are off. I think what we will see in practice is that both the U.S. and Russia will continue to observe these limitations, at least for a year or two.

Could a conflict over Taiwan remain below the nuclear threshold or would pressures on core strategic interests make nuclear escalation difficult to avoid?

It’s in everyone’s interest to remain below the nuclear threshold. What forces states to contemplate the use of nuclear weapons is risk to their core strategic imperatives when it’s coupled with the recognition that they cannot be defended conventionally. We want to keep everyone away from these “decisions of last resort.�

How are strategists addressing the increasing involvement of multiple nuclear powers in what has historically been a conversation between U.S. and Russia?

Hopefully through negotiation. The recalcitrant party is the Chinese government, which refuses to enter negotiations. Unless we can resolve it in this manner, then we’re going to have to expand our arsenal.

The Golden Dome is a proposed U.S. missile defense system designed to protect the country from advanced missile attacks. If implemented, how would it impact the United States’ nuclear deterrence strategy? 

In my judgment, it can fundamentally alter our deterrence policy by ensuring that we are no longer vulnerable to strikes from smaller nuclear states and to limited strikes from peer states or near-peers. It could be the most significant development in the nuclear arena since the hydrogen bomb.

How does USF play a role in in addressing the challenges of rising nuclear tensions? 

We have an opportunity at USF to discuss nuclear issues. They are becoming increasingly important, and the spirit of free inquiry that is fundamental to our university gives us a useful platform for addressing these important issues. Yes – we have something to say here.

GNSI Tampa Summit Cracks in the Lamp: Freeing the Nuclear Genie is free to the public. is required.